Because there's no such thing as too much reality TV

For those who forgot or missed it (like I did), Britain's Missing Top Model (you know, the one with the amputees) debuted on UK TV last week and has been uploaded to YouTube for all the world to see. It's fucking amazing. Seriously. You can watch it via kimmikimmileon's vast an amazing account (the second episode is being uploaded as I type).

The evolution of reality TV is sort of awesome to me. Whereas for years, most shows were based on The Real World model (a bunch of strangers living together) with slight tweaks (variables usually in the form of some sort of cockamamie competition), we now have shows that are based on the shows that hijacked that model; ones that use the America's Next Top Model model, for example. It's second-generation tweaking. And so with Britain's Missing Top Model and She's Got the Look, we see the frivolity-laden ANTM format being exploited to discuss issues that aren't frivolous at all, actually (specifically, people with disabilities and ageism). Perhaps this has the ultimate effect of fortifying french fries, but hey, a clogged heart is still a heart and I'm happy to see it on display in both of the off-shoots. (Or maybe I'm just elaborately and indirectly apologizing for the lack of new ideas. It happens.)

BMTM is, of course, even more of a fantasy version of a fantasy world than ANTM is -- many of the participants on the show don't have a shot of being accepted in the actual world, let alone the hyper-exclusive modeling industry. The show at least has the sense to critique itself. Judges worry about being too patronizing. A talent scout observes a photo shoot, which fails to assuage her doubt about any of these girls having a future in modeling. The show all but presents a musical number explaining that reality TV is all about the means, and not the end (I can't even remember what the prize for winning this thing is, that's how little of a deal is made about it).

But what means they are! The challenges are still ridiculous (in the first episode, the girls are made to find a "sort of couture, vintage object" to model with, which: WHAT THE FUCK IS A COUTURE OBJECT?!?). The girls are even more ridiculous. After a group meeting in which the girls bond about their various disabilities, amputee Debbie notes: "Meeting the girls, I think it made me more aware that I only miss an arm and that I can be lucky that it doesn't really affect my life and that I can do everything I would like to do. I can see that some girls have it harder than I have." It's at once touching and comical to hear a woman with one arm finding solace in others' difficulties and reasoning that her life isn't so hard, after all. That weird vibe stays throughout the show -- much to its credit, Britain's Missing Top Model is freakishly uplifting.

You can watch that meeting, btw, in the clip below (forward to 0:55):

Jenny FTW, btw.

Comments

[HouseofJules]

I love the girl in the white dress, chomping away on an apple the entire time. This show makes me woozy (in the good way).
Jules
House of Jules

[Billy]

Ya inspirational, that's all good and fine, but when is Heather Mills going to be the guest judge?? BTW "freakishly inspiring"-you bad boy!

StarDelicious

[coco]

Recaps?

[spazmo]

This show doesn't put average girls through the reality show grinder like ANTM, it takes vulnerable ones and pitches an old-fashioned freakshow tent over their heads.

Which...I mean, fuck that.

And did you notice? None of these girls have birthmarks or facial deformities. The lesson being what - that true beauty still has its standards?

I've seen enough.

[Gretchen]

And did you notice? None of these girls have birthmarks or facial deformities. The lesson being what - that true beauty still has its standards?

They're models-- or at least, they're trying to be. How many violations of traditional beauty do you think it's appropriate to ask for? Should we complain because none of them weigh over 200 pounds? Should we complain because none of them is a burn victim?

[Normal]

I thought this was going to be a horrible train wreck of wrong, but it's actually quite interesting and thoughtful. The show seems self-aware in a way that ANTM totally isn't. The producers are clearly trying to make a difference, not pretend that disabled women will easily find a home in the fashion industry. The debate in the second episode about deafness as "not disabled enough" was, again, pretty thoughtful for a show like this.

I don't get a "freakshow" vibe at all, spazmo. The show seems to be trying to show "beauty with disability," nothing more or less.

[Dandy Darkly]

You need to host a Reality TV seminar and discussion somewhere in NYC.

[Vanessa]

I dunno. It's prolly admirable but the focus on their missing extremities makes me queasy. Every limb I have is distressed at the moment.

[sarah]

damnit i wish i had that channel.

[balancingfoxes]

thank you for highlighting this show for me!
I was so looking forward to seeing it.. but having the crappy american tv i figured i wasn't going to be able to see it until VH1 started showing it in reruns some random tuesday... you can see the second episode as well on youtube..and it just gets BETTER..god bless you fo fo

[spikenard]

If you think BNTM is good - try Australia's Next Top Model.

[add-mmm]

I like the idea of hijacking the concept of the show and exploring new territory with it. This show is especially interesting because it challenges the concept of accepted beauty, which in my opinion needs some shaking up. But like all these types of shows *ANTM, Most Extreme, etc...*, I wonder how long it'll take before Blue Cross Blue Shield starts donating prosthetics for advertising credits.

[bleubird]

Jenny FTW, probably yes, but man, she's annoying and self-absorbed.

[speedymarie]

Love this show. I thought it would be much, much different than it is.

[hughman]

this was pretty awesome. i especially loved how the women sat around and just asked how the others were disabled - something people might want to do all the time but are too ashamed.

i was probably most weirded out by the one girl who was in Playboy. that sounded like Playboy was only doing it for some kinky reason.

the only thing i thought was a little weird was the "uniforms and no make-up" thing. not something any model would have to face. as someone who worked in that industry for many years, i have to say the opposite is true. many a woman shows up on a shoot looking meh but after wardrobe and makeup looks amazing, it really is a matter of how you look in front of the camera not in person.

[Betty]

Have you read Geek Love by Katherine Dunn? I'm reading it right now and your post made me think of it. It's basically about this family of self-made circus freaks and how they interact with "norms" and it raises all these questions of exploitation and the fascination with the unknown. This show looks a lot better than I imagined it would- I was afraid it'd be a bit more gimmicky. The guy claiming disability has a place in fashion because it has a place in life strikes me as being really insincere, though. Since when has fashion had ANYTHING really to do with real life?

[Brandon H]

This show. Oh...wow. Ummm. No thank you.

[Easter Buffy]

Rich, I so wish you would do recaps of this show. The producers love to highlight the one judge saying," Disability is a part of sport, it's a part of life, it should be a part of fashion," so why not comment on it? I'm not saying make fun of anyone's disability, but not only has the show stolen the ANTM format (well, everyone has stolen that format), but the challenges and photo shoots as well. Seriously, the girls had to stand in lingerie in a window a la the Barney's challenge from Cycle 3 ANTM wherein Simon Doonan judged their performances, and they had to pose as pin ups with some Ford car in Cycle 5 ANTM. Please tell me this doesn't beg for comparison.

I do agree it's actually better than ANTM, because you're so rooting for each girl in her own way to somehow be accepted despite her disability.

And the hats they had to model were pretty fabulous as well. Thank god somebody still makes hats.

And She's Got the Look is coming back for a second season. Yeah! Glad they went with an older model, although I preferred the other runners up (who I hope, like ANTM runners up, get representation).

Looking forward to the resumption of your ANTM commentary, but not necessarily the resumption of ANTM. Have a groovy summer.

[fb]

this show is actually quite good to watch at this time, since there isn't another spinoff on at the moment...

but seriously i feel so guilty watching this who because i end up laughing at them and making dumb jokes:

which concludes that i will definitely be going to hell.

[gm]

I watched this show kind of expecting it to be a typical NTM trainwreck. I was pleasantly surprised by how legitmately affected I was by the girls and their stories. I don't expect any of them to really have modeling careers outside of the winner who will at least have a spread under her belt. I don't even care about the modeling aspects of this show, anyway, though. I just like to see how the girls cope with their problems. They aren't all admirable or well adjusted either. I think that the saddest girl is probably Sophie. She clearly puts down the other girls because she hasn't accepted her own disability. I kind of hope that she's able to get over that a bit in the course of the series and see how maybe her situation is tolerable in comparison to other people's.

[Kaitlin]

holy shit. i checked out this show because of your posting. and wow. it's amazing. seriously. it's weird to see people that you are so fond of and proud of on a reality television show. i just finished episode three and it brought me to tears. woah. [jenny was my personal favourite.]
i'm going into rehabilitation services [essentially helping the disabled] and it's just wow. everyone should watch this show just for a lesson in life. amazing.

[Sarah]

I like it. I want an episode summary from you! There is PLENTY to be said about the third episode...

[Shane]

FTW? Can someone tell me what this stands for?

[Rlopqfxk]

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